WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/24/03

[7-11Rke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC-19:35]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Authorities are looking into the cause of a fire that damaged one unit of a motel in Roanoke County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :20+]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
A fire at the Roanoke Motor Lodge on Williamson Road in Hollins broke out shortly after 9 o'clock last night. Officials say a coffee table caught fire and quickly spread to two beds and the walls causing extensive damage to the unit. The tenant was able to get out of the unit, and nobody was injured. Fire officials say the cause is still under investigation.
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[7-11River-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC-1:31:23]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
One man has died from hypothermia after he and his father were rescued from floodwaters in Montgomery County.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./Yesterday;]
Carilion Hospital officials confirmed yesterday morning that Brian Quesenberry passed away at New River Valley Medical Center. Brian and his father Stewart Quesenberry were caught in the Roanoke River's waters near Elliston, in Montgomery County, for several hours before rescuers could reach them. Initial word was that both were hospitalized in serious condition, but we learned yesterday morning that Brian Quesenberry died late Saturday night, less than five hours after he was pulled from the water.
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[wipe/wipe/wipe]

[7-11Vinton-Death]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC-1:56:10]
[GRAPHIC=]
[wipe/wipe/wipe/]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton/Yesterday Morning; ]
Flood waters have also claimed the life of a Vinton man. Yesterday morning, searchers recovered a pickup truck that was swept into Tinker Creek Saturday night. The body of a man was found inside, but police are not yet releasing his name pending notification of family. The red Toyota pickup was found about 100 feet from the spot where it was last seen going under near 5th and Walnut.
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[7-11Warner-58]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC-28:33]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Governor Mark Warner is hoping to move ahead with plans to expand Route 58.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co.]

The 680 mile long project from Cumberland Gap to Norfolk was being built in segments.
But back in December, a review of V-DOT finances showed a 272-million dollar shortfall between what the state had planned to spend improving Route 58, and how much is needed.
That prompted the state to suspend all work on 58 that was not already underway.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:39:33]
[IN Q=We're going to have]
((GOV. MARK WARNER: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK THOUGH TO MAKE UP THE FUNDING GAP FOR EXAMPLE THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ACT OTHER KIND OF INNOVATIVE APPROACHES WHERE WE CAN FIND PERHAPS SECURE PRIVATE FINANCING TO FINISH ALL OF 58.))
[SUPER=@markwarner; ]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=finish all of 58]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Warner went on to say that V-DOT's quote "sloppiness" led to the problem in the first place.
The governor has proposed reforms that would require every project over 120-million dollars to have a financial plan.
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[45-11James-River]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC-46:09]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
The waters are now receding along the James River in Buchanan, but not before making residents there very nervous. Justin McLeod has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Buchanan; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lawrence Keith/Buchanan Resident; :32]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:08]
[SUPER=01-Billy Lipes/Buchanan Resident; 1:46]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Buchanan]
((((NAT SOUND OF WATER RAGING AT 2:41:27))
The James River was still on the rise Sunday morning. ((NAT SOUND OF WATER))
By afternoon, it had reached more than 23 feet, nearly seven feet above flood stage.
[SOT 2:32:06]
[IN Q=I think it's]
((LAWRENCE KEITH/BUCHANAN RESIDENT: I THINK IT'S A MESS MYSELF, I DON'T LIKE, I WILL BE GLAD WHEN IT GOES BACK DOWN.))

[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=it goes back down]

Here's the reason why.
The water came within five feet from his front door.
That prompted Lawrence Keith to pack up his things and move them to the second floor.
[SOT 2:32:45]
[IN Q=Everybody around here]
((LAWRENCE KEITH/BUCHANAN RESIDENT: EVERYBODY AROUND HERE HAS DONE THE SAME THING, ALL UP AND DOWN LOWE STREET, CLEARED EVERYTHING OUT, JUST DON'T KNOW HOW HIGH IT'S GOING TO GET.))
[Runs= 07]
[OUT Q=going to get]

It did get high enough to cause plenty of problems. (SHOT AT 2:28:56)
The water almost completely covered this car. (CLOSE-UP SHOT FROM BEHIND)
It could be days before mail is delivered to this mailbox. (SHOT AT 2:30:58)
Baseball season will probably have to start late judging by the conditions of the ballfields. (SHOT AT 2:27:47)
Many drivers will have to find alternate routes until roads like Route 43 are safe enough to re-open. (FIRST SHOT AT 2:36:44 THEN USE SHOT AT 2:35:19)
[SOT 1:22:08; TAPE 2]
[IN Q=This is an overview]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE JAMES RIVER HERE IN BUCHANAN. ALTHOUGH IT MAY LOOK BAD, THEY'VE ACTUALLY SEEN IT MUCH WORSE HERE. TOWNSFOLK SAY THE FLOODS OF 85 AND 96 CAUSED MUCH MORE DAMAGE BUT THIS ONE DOES COME IN A CLOSE THIRD.))
[Runs= 12]
[OUT Q=close third]
((NAT SOUND OF OWNER SAYING "THE WATER STARTING COMING DOWN THE BASEMENT" AT 2:47:24 BUT COVER WITH VIDEO))
The owners of this pizzeria in downtown Buchanan are experiencing their first flood, just two months after opening.
[SOT 2:48:21]
[IN Q=I don't know if]
((MARK DiBENEDETTO/FANZARELLI'S PIZZERIA: I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BAD LUCK OR WHAT YET WE DON'T KNOW YET.))
[Runs= 03]
[OUT Q=know yet]

If it is bad luck, many other businesses had it too, from this car wash to this bait and tackle shop.
By mid-afternoon however goods news had arrived, the water began to recede.
High winds then became a concern prompting the fire department to close this bridge over the James River.
[SOT 2:40:00]
[IN Q=I'd day most people]
((BILLY LIPES/BUCHANAN RESIDENT: I'D SAY MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING AS IT IS. IF YOU LIVE ALONG THE RIVER, YOU GOT TO BE EXPECTING IT.))
[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=expecting it]

Whether you expected it or not, it will be days before everything is back to normal again.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Buchanan.))

[8-11Rke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC-19:35]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Fire damaged one unit of a Roanoke county motel last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :20+]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
A fire at the Roanoke Motor Lodge on Williamson Road in Hollins broke out shortly after 9 o'clock last night. Officials say a coffee table caught fire and quickly spread to two beds and the walls causing extensive damage to the unit. The tenant was able to get out of the unit, and nobody was injured. Fire officials say the cause is still under investigation.
(------------)

[8-11Carvins-Cove]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC-33:40]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
Besides causing flooding, this weekend's heavy rains did help replenish Roanoke City's main water supply.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove;]
The current measurement of Carvins Cove puts the water level less than a foot below full pond, at 98-percent capacity.
But today's reading is expected to show Carvins Cove at maximum capacity. A little more than one year ago, the cove hit 22 feet below the spillway, sparking mandatory water restrictions for city residents that lasted throughout the spring, summer and fall.
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[8-11FPL-Energy]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC-1:01:49]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Plans to build a proposed power plant in Pittsylvania County have been postponed indefinitely.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dry Fork/File Tape]

Florida Power and Light wanted to build a natural gas-fired power plant between Danville and Chatham.
The White Oak Energy Center would have been located on 128 acres of land off Dry Fork Road near the county landfill.

A spokesman for F-P-L says it has scrapped plans for the project because of a lack of need for natural gas.
The company says it may reconsider that decision if the market changes.
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